Cellar-door.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

J. R. POTTS.

CELLAR DOOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904:.

PATENT QEETcE.

CELLAR-DOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,061, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed March 1'7, 1904:.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH R. Porrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Cellar-Doors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to cellardoors, while it is equally applicable for other doors or closures.

It has for its object to provide for combined strength and lightness, to prevent the sagging of the door or closure, to effect the ready securing or locking of the parts, to let the lock or securing means into the door or closure in a plane inward from or flush with the outer surface of the closure, and to otherwise promote utility and convenience.

Said invention consists of detailed structural features including the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed and particularly pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with one door elevated or in open position looking toward said door. Fig. 3 is a section produced in a plane at right angles to that of the aforesaid section extending through the lock-receiving recess or clepression in one of the doors or closures. Fig. 4 is a broken-away view with one of the doors or closures in open position and viewed in edge elevation. Fig. 5 is a broken-away inverted view showing more fully the right-angled corner pieces or brackets securing the cellar-door frame sections or members together. Fig. 6 is a broken-away detailed section produced through the cellar-door frame contiguously to one of the cellar-door hinges.

In the carrying out of my invention I construct the door-frame 1 as used, for instance, for a cellar or subterranean chamber under a house or building, preferably of wrought iron or steel sections 1, having a right angled cross-section and secured together by preferably wrought-iron right-angled corner pieces or brackets 2", suitably riveted to said sections. This construction, while it possesses Serial No. 198,627. (No model.)

the requisite strength and is greatly less liable to be broken even in transit or shipping than has been experienced in making the same of cast iron, is also comparatively light and therefore much more readily handled both as in shipping or transporting and placing the same in position for use, as will doubtless be appreciated.

Doors or closures 2 2 are suitably constructed and preferably have impressed in their surfaces outward rounded or convexed elevations or projections T for preventing readily slipping, as by walking upon the same, and are hinged in position to the frame 1 by preferably what may be termed strap: hinges 3. Each hinge consists of a Wroughtmetal strap 3, having its greater portion bolted or riveted to the door upon its inner surface and looped at one end into an eye or socket 3, extending beyond the door edge and let into a recess or housing 3", formed in said frame, said eye or socket receiving a pintle fixed in said recess or housing. Said hinges are adapted to rest about flush with the outer surface of the door-frame, thus permitting the doors to rest flat upon the latter, the advantage of which is apparent. The door 2 has suitably secured or riveted to its inner surface, so as to extend or project in a plane beyond the forward edge thereof. a strip or bar 4:, adapted to underlap the opposite door 2 at its corresponding edge, the purpose of which is obvious. Also suitably secured or riveted to the same surface of the door 2 is a hasp-bar 5, with one end projecting beyond the forward edge thereof and having an upwardextendecl or right-angled loop terminal or keeper 5 passing through a slot 5. produced in a downward-dished or concaved depression or recess 6 formed in the opposite door 2*, whereby the shackle member of a padlock 7 for the reception of which said recess or depression is provided, may be passed through or engaged with said keeper, and thus provide for conjointly securing or looking the doors. Upon the door 2 within said depression 6 is also formed an eye or loop 8, designed to permit said padlock-shackle to be slipped thereinto when said shackle is withdrawn from the keeper of the hasp-bar, as in unlocking the doors, whereby said lock may be retained in said recess or depression conveniently at hand for use when it may be required to again lock the doors, and whereby said lock may be grasped, and thus be utilized or improvised into a handhold or means for conveniently lifting the door, as in opening the same.

A truss-brace 9 is applied to the underlapping door-bar 4, engaging also the opposite door, to prevent the sagging tendency thereof from being walked upon or other cause, said brace having its ends bolted or riveted to said bar near its ends and stressed by jackscrews 9, interposed and adapted to work therebetween and said door, and equipped with jam-nuts and washers 9, bearing upon said brace and adapted to increase the tension, as required.

Lever or handle provided latches 10 are pivoted to the inner surface of the door 2 near its ends or lateral edges and adapted to be en gaged by suitably manipulating their handles with slots or notches 11, produced in the opposite edges of the door-frame 1 for aiding in securing the doors in locked position, as will be readily understood.

It will be understood that latitude is allowed as to details herein, as they may be changed as circumstances suggest without departing from the spirit of myinvention and the latter still be protected.

I claim 1. In a structure of the character described, a door-frame composed of sections right-angled in cross-section, and right-angled cornerpieces secured to said sections at the indicated points and doors hinged to said frame, one of said doors having a depression or recess provided with a slot and the other door having a hasp-bar with its loop passing through said slot and means engaging said keeper for securing the same locked.

2. In a structure of the character described composed of sections right-angled in crosssection and right-angled corner-pieces secured to said sections at the indicated points, and doors hinged to said frame, with their hinges let into the latter about flush with the outer surface of said frame. one of said doors having a depression provided with a slot and the other door having a hasp-bar With its loop passing through said slot, and means engaging said keeper for securing the same locked.

3. A door-frame, doors or closures hinged to said frame, one of said doors having a depression or recess provided with a slot, and the other door having a hasp-bar with its loop or keeper passing through said slot, and means engaging said keeper for securing the same locked.

4. A door frame and doors or closures hinged to said frame, one havinga depression or recess adapted to contain a lock and having an eye or keeper to receive the shackle of said lock, for the purpose set forth.

5. Adoorframe,doors hinged to said frame, one having a depression or recess provided with a slot and with a keeper or eye, and the other door having a hasp-bar with a rightangled keeper at one end extending through said slot, and a locking means adapted to engage said keepers.

6. A door-frame and doors hinged to said frame, one having a projecting bar at its free edge, and a truss-brace engaged by nut-provided screws adapted to stress or brace said door, and the other door engaged upon its under side by said bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH R. POTTS. l/Vitn esses:

H. H. MERGER, ED. S. l/VAGONER. 

